Diatoms getting on fish or a bigger problem?

[kcap]

Currently dealing with diatoms as my tank is still very new. This scooter blenny i have has started to get these brown spots on his fins. Is this due to him scooting around in the diatoms or should I be worried?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Currently dealing with diatoms as my tank is still very new. This scooter blenny i have has started to get these brown spots on his fins. Is this due to him scooting around in the diatoms or should I be worried?

Assure you have proper flow as it should prevent any sediment on the fish. Diatoms are a brown algae that typically appear in a tank which has just completed its cycle but they can also appear in an established tanks and looks ugly but in most cases are harmless and feed off of silicates as well as dissolved organic compounds, phosphate and nitrates. Tap water addition is often a contributor.

 

[kcap]

Currently dealing with diatoms as my tank is still very new. This scooter blenny i have has started to get these brown spots on his fins. Is this due to him scooting around in the diatoms or should I be worried?

Assure you have proper flow as it should prevent any sediment on the fish. Diatoms are a brown algae that typically appear in a tank which has just completed its cycle but they can also appear in an established tanks and looks ugly but in most cases are harmless and feed off of silicates as well as dissolved organic compounds, phosphate and nitrates. Tap water addition is often a contributor.

Yeah spoke to the guy at my LFS, and he also thought it was due to low flow. I turned the speed up on my wavemaker to see if it'll help make a difference

 

[Mebbid]

tbh, id be more concerned that the scooter blenny isn't eating enough. It appears very skinny in the picture. How big is your tank and how long has it been up?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Currently dealing with diatoms as my tank is still very new. This scooter blenny i have has started to get these brown spots on his fins. Is this due to him scooting around in the diatoms or should I be worried?

I've seen algae grow on some species of fish (notably anglerfish and scorpionfish). I've never seen it on a scooter blenny, buy maybe? I can't see what you are describing in the picture - only normal coloration.

I agree though, this fish is thin. Extra water flow may actually make that issue worse by blowing food away from it. Try feeding it small amounts of food, but a lot more often, 4x a day would not be too often.

 

[Mebbid]

Currently dealing with diatoms as my tank is still very new. This scooter blenny i have has started to get these brown spots on his fins. Is this due to him scooting around in the diatoms or should I be worried?

I've seen algae grow on some species of fish (notably anglerfish and scorpionfish). I've never seen it on a scooter blenny, buy maybe? I can't see what you are describing in the picture - only normal coloration.

I agree though, this fish is thin. Extra water flow may actually make that issue worse by blowing food away from it. Try feeding it small amounts of food, but a lot more often, 4x a day would not be too often.

Or even more, they are like mandarins and need to graze all day. Feed it some food every time you walk past the tank. A brine shrimp feeder might be a good buy as well.

 

[kcap]

Tank has been running for about a month and just got this scooter blenny last week. Here's another picture of it. Is it still looking skinny to you guys?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Tank has been running for about a month and just got this scooter blenny last week. Here's another picture of it. Is it still looking skinny to you guys?

Still looks skinny to me. What are you feeding it, and what does your feeding schedule look like?

 

[56longroof]

Tank has been running for about a month and just got this scooter blenny last week. Here's another picture of it. Is it still looking skinny to you guys?

A month is to new of a tank to support a fish like this. If your dead set on keeping it start adding alot of pods and amphipods to the tank now.

 

[kcap]

I feed twice a day, pellets in the morning and frozen mysis for dinner. When I got him I asked the lady at the store if he needed pods and she told me he's been eating leftover pellets and mysis. I'll probably reach out to my LFS and see if I can bring him back to the store since it seems like my tank is not yet ready to support him